Gun Free SA to build world’s first bullet-proof park in Mitchells Plain
The proposed design boasts state-of-the-art features including level-8 bulletproof glass, panic buttons, and controlled access points.
A sign at the entrance of Mitchells Plain, Cape Town / Wikimedia Commons: Discott
Clarence Ford interviews Adèle Kirsten, Director of Gun Free SA.
Listen below.
More than 11,300 people died from gunshot wounds within a single twelve-month span between 2022 and 2023.
About 10% of these fatalities are gang-related, highlighting the grim reality of urban violence.
Shockingly, numerous children fall victim to stray bullets.
In response to this harrowing situation, non-governmental organisation Gun Free SA has unveiled a bold initiative: creating the world's inaugural 'Bulletproof Park' in Mitchells Plain, a community profoundly affected by gang warfare.
This pioneering endeavour seeks to establish a haven of safety and recreation for children amid the constant threat of gunfire.
While some say it's a radical approach, Kirsten questions whether this measure offers a truly sustainable solution to the decades-long scourge of gun violence.
She also emphasises Gun Free SA's deliberate decision to bring the issue into the public sphere, underscoring the urgent need for action against the ongoing crisis plaguing communities every day, yet often goes unacknowledged.
"Gun violence is out of control in this country."
- Adèle Kirsten, Director of Gun Free SA
"There's complete silence on the gun violence crisis."
- Adèle Kirsten, Director of Gun Free SA
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